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Photochromic contact lenses and methods for their production

a technology of contact lenses and compositions, applied in the field of photochromic tinting compositions, can solve the problems of not producing commercially desirable contact lenses, existing photochromic compounds, and methods for producing very thin photochromic articles, such as contact lenses, and providing enough darkening to produce a noticeable difference to the wearer

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-11-24
MOLOCK FR F +3
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Photochromic contact lenses, which would provide wearers superior vision and comfort in bright light conditions such as sunlight, are not currently available.
However, existing photochromic compounds and methods for producing very thin photochromic articles, such as contact lenses, have not produced commercially desirable lenses.
Prior attempts have either not provided enough darkening to produce a noticeable difference to the wearer, or the existing photochromic compounds and methods for their manufacture were not compatible with the materials and processes used to make ophthalmic devices which reside in or on the eye.

Method used

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  • Photochromic contact lenses and methods for their production
  • Photochromic contact lenses and methods for their production
  • Photochromic contact lenses and methods for their production

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

[0068] Binding polymer was formed by the following process:

[0069] To the cold stirred reactor was added about 537 g 1-octanethiol, followed by 20,850 g 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, 283 g methacrylic acid, 29,415 g isopropyl lactate, 7,363 g 1-ethoxy-2-propanol, and 973 g glycerol. The reactor was heated to about 68° C., and 128 g parts 2,2′-azobis-(2-methylbutyronitrile) was added to start the polymerization process. After 3 hours most of the monomers had reacted, but the temperature was maintained overnight at 68° C. to finish the process. The reactor was heated to about 80° C. for about 24 hours more to destroy excess initiator. The reactor was cooled and the viscosity was adjusted to 5900 to 7700 mPas (23° C.) by adding about 1,000 g of a mixture of the above-mentioned solvents. The solution was filtered through a 5 micron filter to obtain the finished binding polymer having a Mpeak of about 28,000 g / mole.

[0070] Photochromic colorant, a dark green, slightly viscous solution cont...

example 2

[0075] The procedure of Example 1 was repeated except using photochromic dye II.

example 3

[0076] The procedure of Example 2 was repeated except using 9% (wt) photochromic dye II, and omitting the MEHQ in the coating mixture.

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Abstract

The invention provides a photochromic composition for use in tinting contact lenses in which the binding polymer used is capable of forming an interpenetrating polymer network with the lens material. When the photochromic compositions of the invention are applied to uncured lens material that is subsequently cured, the binding polymer forms an interpenetrating polymer network with the lens material embedding the photochromic compound within the lens material resulting in a stable, photochromic lens.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 027,579, which was filed on Dec. 20, 2001.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to photochromic tinting compositions useful in the production of photochromic contact lenses. In particular, the invention provides a one step process for photochromically tinting contact lenses and photochromic tinting compositions for use in the process. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Photochromic spectacles have proven to be successful products which afford the wearer the convenience and superior vision and comfort of visible-light absorbing lenses (sunglasses) when exposed to bright light conditions such as daylight, and return to non-absorbing lenses when in low light conditions to provide optimal night and indoor vision, without the need for switching between two pairs of spectacles. Photochromic contact lenses, which would provide wearers superior vision and comfort in bright light conditio...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B29D11/00G02B1/04G02B5/23
CPCB29D11/00125B29D11/00317G02B1/04G02B1/043G02B5/23G02C7/102G02C7/04C08L33/10B29D11/00903B29D11/00
Inventor MOLOCK, FRANK F.CULLERTON, GINA M.SPAULDING, TERRY L.MAHADEVAN, SHIVKUMAR
Owner MOLOCK FR F
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